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She wrote to then health secretary Shona Robison to warn that the pigeons could pose a risk to health.

Sophie believes that if her concerns had been addressed, the current outbreak of infection linked to pigeon droppings could have been avoided.

It is understood that the patients who died, a child and an elderly person, were both being treated for Cryptococcus before their deaths.

Sophie said: “We visit the hospital for my husband’s neurologist appointments as he has multiple sclerosis and he has to have MRI scans. While there, we witnessed a very large infestation of pigeons roosting and nesting in and around the air vent unit system outside.

“The vent systems were covered in pigeon excrement.

“The toxic excrement flowing through the air conditioning units in the hospital would surely put anyone at risk of Cryptococcus. Breathing this air in would cause this disease to spread as it is airborne.

“This hospital is a disgrace considering it is supposed to be a ‘super-hospital’.

“They have been aware of problems with pigeons for long enough to eradicate them and take measures to prevent them returning.

“This concerns me as my husband has an autoimmune disease and he is in at risk group due to his weakened immune system.”

The letter was sent on March 26 last year. Robison left the cabinet in June.

The new Health Secretary is Jeane Freeman.

Graeme, who uses a wheelchair but works full-time, said: “It was shocking to see the huge amount of pigeons right next to where I go for my MIR scan.

“There was an obvious health risk there that myself and Sophie picked up on, so we can’t understand why no one at the hospital did anything about it.

"We were convinced that the hospital must have been aware of the risk this posed, so our letter went to the then Cabinet Secretary for Health. We did not receive any reply to the letter.”

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde confirmed that an elderly patient who contracted the infection died from an unrelated cause about three weeks ago.

A child who died around the same time was also infected and factors contributing to their death are still under investigation.

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An NHSGGC spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with the families at this distressing time.”

The infection is caused by inhaling the fungus Cryptococcus, primarily found in soil and pigeon droppings.

NHSGCC said that a likely source was found in a non-public area away from wards and the droppings were removed. A spokesman added: “Like many very large buildings, the hospital can at times attract birds.

“We have a number of control measures in place to prevent them gathering and are exploring further options to add to the existing measures.”

On the patients’ deaths, he said: “The investigation remains ongoing into the cause of two isolated cases of Cryptococcus. These were identified in December and an Incident Management Team was formed. A likely source was identified and dealt with immediately.

“The small number of paediatric and adult patients who are vulnerable to this infection are receiving medication to prevent potential infection and this has proved effective.

“Air sampling was carried out and HEPA filters were brought in on January 10 to specific areas before conclusive results were available. Results identifying the organism were obtained on January 16.

“Early indications suggest the filters are having a positive effect.

“The organism is harmless to the vast majority of people and rarely causes disease in humans.”

Last night, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said they had no trace of any letter sent by Sophie.